Archive

The Ford Motor Company announced a two-phased approach to integrating Amazon Alexa into its 2017 line of vehicles.

The first gives electric Ford vehicle owners the ability to connect to their cars from the comfort of their homes through Alexa devices such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Amazon Tap. Starting today, Ford electric car drivers can ask the Ford skill to start and stop the engine, lock and unlock doors, check fuel range and charge status, obtain vehicle mileage summary, and check vehicle location with street name and drive time home just by using their voice.

Inside the home, interactions with Alexa could include:

User: “Alexa, ask Ford to start my car with PIN 5769.”

Alexa: “The start command has been sent to your car.”

Alexa In the Car

The second phase, which starts this spring, enables Ford drivers with SYNC 3 AppLink to ask Alexa to search and transfer destinations to navigation, resume audiobooks, request news, add items to Amazon shopping list, and more—all from their car.

For example, drivers will be able to tap the voice recognition button on the steering wheel in the car to ask Alexa to find the nearest Italian restaurant. Alexa will show the closest options, and once the driver picks the destination, transfer the address to the SYNC 3 navigation system without the driver ever having to take their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel.

With the in-car Alexa Voice Service integration, drivers can also command smart home features such as lighting, security systems, garage doors, and more from the comfort of their driver’s seat.